Langtang Valley Trek

We will wake up early in the morning and have our breakfast. After that, we will go on a guided sightseeing tour where we will see the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will visit the sacred Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Later in the evening, we will prepare for our trek and do the last-minute shopping if needed.

The adventure of Langtang Valley Trek begins with an 8-hour drive from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi, the gateway to Langtang National Park. We'll be passing through charming rural villages, winding mountain roads, and rolling fields of rice, maize, and millet. As we follow the Trisuli River and ascend to Dhunche, we'll start to glimpse the snowy peaks of the Ganesh Himal Range. Upon reaching Syabru Besi, we will be staying in a teahouse and spent the night.

We’ll start the trek from Syabru Besi by crossing the bridge over the Ying Yang River. The trail ascends and descends simultaneously through the dense sub-tropical forest alongside Langtang Khola. As the trek continues, oak and rhododendron trees dominate the surroundings. While walking in the woods, make sure to watch out for the langur monkeys. The trail goes steep and slightly strenuous through the forest up to Lama Hotel.

Today’s trail begins by climbing through a forest of pine and rhododendron, passing several small mountain communities, and rising above the watercourse of the Langtang Khola to reveal a splendid view of the Langtang Himal Range. These mountains are the defining feature of the Langtang Valley. Their highest peak is known as Langtang Lirung, which ascends to higher than 7,000m in altitude. We'll hike in the shadow of its mighty summit as we traverse a glacial valley on the way to Godatabel, a settlement that marks the approximate halfway point on our route for the day. We will hike along a path adorned with prayer wheels and chortens. As we penetrate deeper into the mountains, these reminders of Buddhist faith appear more frequently, and we'll marvel at their beautiful inscriptions and loving craftsmanship. We'll continue across alpine meadows where livestock can often be found grazing as we make the final approach to Langtang village.

Lovers of alpine scenery will cherish the next two days as the best of the entire ten-day Langtang Valley Trek. Departing Langtang village, we'll ascend along steep paths and come across a handful of tiny settlements used by yak herders. This is a reliable sign that you're trekking at a genuinely high altitude; yaks are rarely found below 3,500m in elevation. After getting a good look at the shaggy creatures, we'll continue alongside the course of the Langtang Khola. As we draw closer to the community of Kyanjin Gompa, we'll come across an extraordinary example of a Buddhist Mani Wall. These walls are constructed with stones of varying shapes and sizes, and each is carved with important religious mantras. The Mani Wall we’ll pass on the way into Kyanjin Gompa is believed to be the second-largest of its type in the entire of Nepal. Today's relatively short hike allows us to adjust to the higher elevation while taking the time to enjoy awe-inspiring mountain panoramas. Overnight at lodge.

Today you can rest or explore the area. You can visit the monastery and the cheese factory, walk up the moraine to see the spectacular ice faces and tumbling glaciers of Langtang Lirung, or ascend Kyangjin Ri directly behind the village, for a breath-taking panorama of the Langtang peaks.

As we bid farewell to the colorful Buddhist community of Kyanjin Gompa, we'll set out for one of the longest stretches of trekking in the Langtang Valley. We'll be hiking back to Lama Hotel today. From Kyangjin Gompa retrace the route you followed up the valley, followed the Langtang Khola to Mundu village, and to Ghora Tabela the descent will certainly be faster than the ascent. After lunch, continue the steep descent to Lama Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast, we'll begin our hike back to Syabru Besi. We have two routes to consider for today's trek. The first lead back to Syabrubesi the same way we left it, descending through pine forest to pass Bamboo and Renche before reaching the Bhote Khola river crossing. A second, steeper option affords splendid views of the Langtang valley and offers the chance to explore a new trail instead of retracing our steps. Your guide will help you decide which route is best, based on seasonal weather patterns and our trekking stamina. Whichever route we select, we'll stroll into Syabrubesi with the satisfaction of having completed the entire Langtang Valley Trek.

We’ll be departing from the Langtang Valley after breakfast. We’ll follow the same scenic route we used about one week ago, tracing the bends and curves of the Bhote Koshi river as it flows past idyllic rural villages and expansive fields of cultivation on the way back to Kathmandu. As you watch the dreamlike imagery of rural Nepal rolling past your window, you’ll think back on the memories you’ve made, the people you've met, and the miles you've covered with your own two feet. When we arrive in the city, we'll check-in at the hotel and you can enjoy well-deserved rest.